An executive-branch-level embrace of Christian nationalism is apparently on the wish list for Donald Trump allies in a second Trump term, according to a document authored by the Center for Renewing America and obtained by Politico.
The CRA, a self-described “America First” think tank, was founded in 2021 by Russell Vought, who headed the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump White House. Vought has shared snippets of his pious political vision in the past. He has, for instance, cited Biblical teachings while arguing for stricter immigration laws, promoting the idea that the US should prioritize immigrants who have “accept[ed] Israel’s God, laws, and understanding of history.” However, the CRA document is short on specifics related to Christian nationalism, proposing instead that Trump ignore undesirable funding allocations approved by Congress and invoke the Insurrection Act on his first day in office, which would allow him to deploy US troops to suppress protesters.
Since leaving the White House, Vought has remained close to Trump. As reported by Politico, the two speak every month, and Vought hopes that their relationship will pay dividends for the Christian nationalist cause should Trump regain power next year. Vought’s other ties to Trumpworld include an advisory role for Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation–led operation constructing a sprawling roster of conservative hard-liners for Trump to usher into his administration. Its mission statement, Politico notes, includes the foundational Christian nationalist belief that “freedom is defined by God, not man.”
While Vought has resisted revealing many of his political aspirations, the same cannot be said of his Christian nationalist ally William Wolfe, another former Trump administration official. In a now deleted post on X, Wolfe argued in favor of banning gay marriage, no-fault divorce, abortion, and sexual health education in public schools, and called for “reduc[ing] access to contraceptives.” Enacting these changes, he claimed, would mean restoring “the American family.” (Vought, Wolfe, and the Trump campaign all declined Politico’s requests for comment. However, a CRA spokesperson said, “the so-called reporting from Politico in this story is false and we told them so on multiple occasions.”)
Trump, for his part, has embraced Christian nationalist positions throughout his campaign. He has promised to “sign an executive order instructing every federal agency to cease the promotion of sex or gender transition at any age,” reportedly signaled his support for a 16-week abortion ban, and pledged to form a new federal task force to fight “anti-Christian” bias. “As soon as I get back in the Oval Office, I’ll also immediately end the war on Christians,” he said during a December stump speech in which he accused Joe Biden of persecuting Christians and linked their alleged tribulations to his own legal problems. “I don’t know if you feel it. You have a war. There’s a war,” he continued. “Government has been weaponized against religion like never before.”
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